Serving all of Florida
Florida Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Miami-Dade, Broward & statewide
The driver who hit you had no insurance — or nowhere near enough. The coverage that saves you is your own, and the insurer rarely volunteers it. I spent 20 years on their side; I know where it’s hidden.
— Emanuel Galimidi, former insurance-defense attorney
What does uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage do in Florida?
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (Fla. Stat. § 627.727) pays for your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance — or not enough to cover your damages. In a state with as many uninsured drivers as Florida, it is often the most valuable coverage you own. Florida does not require UM, but your insurer must offer it, and you can only reject or reduce it in a signed writing; if that rejection wasn't valid, UM may apply even if you thought you declined it. UM can be 'stacked' across multiple vehicles for higher limits unless you signed a non-stacking form. Because Florida's no-fault PIP (§ 627.736, still in effect in 2026) caps out at just $10,000, UM is what actually fills the gap after a serious crash. You generally have two years to file (§ 95.11(5)(a)).
UM/UIM coverage — the facts that matter
- Deadline
- The injury claim is generally 2 years; UM has its own timing
- It is your own coverage
- UM/UIM pays your injuries when the at-fault driver can’t
- Default limit
- By law it equals your BI limits unless you rejected it in writing
- What it costs
- Free consultation · no fees or costs unless you recover
What they do
What the insurer does with the coverage you paid for
UM is a policy you already bought — and the same company that took the premium is the one that fights the claim. The moves are predictable once you know them.
Sell you low limits
At sign-up they steer you toward minimal UM — or a quick waiver — to shave the premium, so the coverage isn’t there when you need it.
Stay quiet after the crash
When an uninsured driver hits you, they don’t volunteer that your own UM applies. Don’t ask, and the file quietly closes.
Dispute the gap & the threshold
They argue the other driver was ‘insured enough,’ or that your injury doesn’t clear Florida’s threshold for pain-and-suffering — anything to avoid paying the difference.
After a crash
What to do if the other driver was uninsured
Find your declarations page
Your policy’s dec page shows whether you carry UM and at what limit. Don’t assume you don’t have it.
Don’t accept ‘you’re not covered’
Whether you rejected UM must be on a state-approved written form. No valid form often means coverage applies anyway.
See a doctor within 14 days
PIP requires it — and it documents the injury your UM claim depends on.
Get the policy reviewed first
Stacking, household vehicles, and resident-relative coverage can multiply what’s actually available.
Florida law
The Florida rules that decide UM coverage
UM is built into your policy
Florida law (§627.727) puts UM in every auto policy with bodily-injury coverage unless the named insured rejected it in writing on a state-approved form.
It defaults to your BI limits
With no valid written rejection or lower-limit selection, your UM is presumed equal to your bodily-injury liability limits.
Underinsured = the gap
If the at-fault driver had some coverage but not enough, UM/UIM can pay the difference between their limit and your damages, up to your UM limit.
Stacking can multiply it
Unless you accepted non-stacked coverage in writing, stacked UM can combine limits across your household vehicles — and it can follow you as a passenger, pedestrian, or cyclist, not only in your own car.
Related pages: Car accidents · Uber & Lyft accidents
A real UM result
Their offer wasn’t the real number.
UM/UIM claim · their first offer: $15K
One of several recent UM/UIM recoveries handled by the firm. Each case is different and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See more case results →Client reviews
What clients say
“Choosing an attorney takes much thought. I had the pleasure of one who was knowledgeable, pleasant to work with, and always considerate of me as his client. Thank you for your professionalism and honesty.”
— Shanda · Google“Emanuel was great — he helped me with my case with very detailed work ethic and communication.”
— Jorge · AvvoIndividual results; outcomes vary by case. Reviews are from the firm’s Google and Avvo profiles.
Questions people ask
Florida UM/UIM coverage FAQ
What is uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage?
It is coverage on your own auto policy that pays for your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance (uninsured) or not enough to cover your damages (underinsured). It can also apply to hit-and-run crashes.
I don’t think I bought UM — could I still have it?
Possibly. Under §627.727, UM is included in every Florida auto policy with bodily-injury coverage unless the named insured rejected it in writing on a state-approved form. Without that valid form, UM may apply at limits equal to your bodily-injury liability limits.
The other driver had insurance — can I still use my UM?
Possibly. If the at-fault driver’s bodily-injury limits are less than your damages, underinsured (UIM) coverage can pay the difference, up to your UM limit.
Can I use UM if I was a passenger, pedestrian, or cyclist?
Often yes. UM can follow you as a named insured or a resident relative even when you were not in your own insured vehicle, including as a pedestrian or bicyclist.
How long do I have to bring a Florida UM claim?
The crash itself carries Florida’s injury deadline (generally 2 years), and a UM claim arises from your own policy with its own timing rules. Don’t wait — get the policy and deadlines reviewed early.
Tell me what happened. The consultation is free.
You'll talk to a senior attorney who spent 20 years on the other side — not a case manager. No fees or costs unless you recover.
Call 786-442-2873